Best Ultraman Toys For Your Collection

Ultraman is a Japanese icon, being one of the longest-running multimedia franchises in Japan as the legendary gigantic tokusatsu hero took on kaiju that could level entire cities. From the original 1966 tokusatsu series to the current modern-day iterations, Ultraman has proven to be a strong fan favorite and there are merch, toys, and other collectibles for this iconic Japanese franchise.

Ultraman has had a lot of iterations, from the original tokusatsu series and its sequels, to anime and manga, as well as live-action films and novels. These have generated a ton of merchandise through the years, and many are already available outside of Japan, from Blu-rays to various toys and manga.

Best Ultraman Toys And Collectibles

Bandai has released a Sofvi Heroes Series for Ultraman, featuring a soft action figure of several characters from the long-running franchise through the years, including this original 1966 version of our title hero. These cheap action figures, while not well-articulated, are a popular pick-up for fans of the tokusatsu genre.

As part of the Sofvi series, these soft and rubbery action figures stand at around five inches in height, are made of vinyl, PVC and ABC material, and are actually quite light. They also come with collectible cards of characters, with this one having a card of Ultraman himself.

Ultraman began back in 1966, and this original TV series that sparked it all is currently available on DVD and Blu-ray. The Blu-ray collection has four discs which together contain all 39 episodes.

The series tells the story of how the gigantic race of aliens known as the ‘Ultras’ arrived on Earth, protecting the planet from various alien invasions, which often end in a gigantic kaiju attacking Japan in monster of the week battles.

One of the new titles that has revived the Ultraman franchise is the Ultraman manga by Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro Shimoguchi, which follows the exploits of the latest Ultraman, Shinjiro, a seemingly ordinary teenager who happens to be the son of Shin Hayata, the original Ultraman. Hayata passed his ‘Ultraman Factor’ to his son, granting Shinjiro powers to take on unruly aliens and threats to the planet.

The manga is released by Viz Media and has even been adapted into an anime. Its first volume chronicles how Shinjiro became the new Ultraman and how he initially struggled with his newfound powers.

This model kit, which fans can build themselves, is part of Bandai’s Figure-Rise Standard line of model kits, which means these are highly-detailed snap-fit kits that are highly-articulated. Those familiar with building Gundam model kits, or GunPla, can find familiarity in building these fantastic model kits.

This Figure-Rise Standard kit includes two chest cavity options that allow modelers to choose from a highly articulated chest or a chest cavity that allows them to place LED lights (which are not included) inside and add a cool lighting effect. It also comes with several effects and accessories, including Ultraman’s iconic Spacium Beam, which is to Ultraman as the Atomic Breath is to Godzilla.

Mego has released an 8-inch action figure of the classic tokusatsu icon, Ultraseven, including a fabric version of its uniform. It has 14 points of articulation and is more than ready to defend Earth from alien invasions, making it a great addition to any Ultraman collection.

Ultraseven was the second-ever member of the “Ultras” ever to have his own TV show and this classic tokusatsu character is immortalized in this cool action figure.

This new take on Ultraman from visionary director Shinji Higuchi (Shin Godzilla) and legendary anime mastermind Hideaki Anno (Neon Genesis Evangelion) stars Takumi Saito as Shinji Kaminaga, the executive strategy officer who worked for the National Police Agency Security Bureau. However, Ultraman accidentally killed him and now has to take his place, taking over his memories and identity as he secretly protects the planet from gigantic alien kaiju.

The film had a mostly-positive critical acclaim worldwide and won several awards back in Japan. It showed the enduring legacy of Ultraman through the decades, even outside of Japan. And yes, this one actually has some gigantic kaiju battles in it.

FAQ

How Many Ultraman Series Are There?

Including Ultraman Arc, there are 36 tokusatsu series that have aired on Japanese TV. In addition, there have also been seven special series, as well as several anime, spin-offs, miniseries, films, TV specials, and crossovers, including 1993’s Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider.

Does Ultraman Have A Guinness World Record?

Ultraman has the world record for a title with the most spin-off shows of all time. That record keeps on growing, especially with the addition of Ultraman Arc. Of course, this still does not include the vast number of spin-offs the original ’60s show had in other media.

Does Ultraman Have Notable Fans?

Yes, Ultraman has some very famous fans, including Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, who stated that Ultraman was a formative influence on his work. Ant-Man director Peyton Reed and video game designer Hideki Kamita (Resident Evil 2, Devil May Cry, Bayonetta) have also cited that they are huge fans of Ultraman and the series has been an influence on their respective works.